21st Annual RTC ConferencePresented in Tampa, February 2008

1

Creating a System of Care Tailored toMeet the Needs of the Early Childhood

Population

Presenters: Robin Orlando, Director of Quality Assurance &

Liz Masten, Early Childhood Evaluation Coordinator

Presentation Objectives Provide overview of SOC in Allegheny

County

Highlight critical components of strategicplanning process for Early Childhoodgrant

Emphasize importance of evaluation instrategic planning process

Discuss strategies for replication

Overview of Allegheny CountySystem of Care Initiative

Allegheny County Department of Human

Serv ices

Office of Behavioral Hea lth

System of Care Init iative

Community Connections for Families (CCF)Population of Focus: 6 to 17 year olds

1998

Partnerships for Youth Transition (P YT)

Population of Focus: 14 – 25 year olds

2002

Starting Early Together (S E T)

Population of Focus: Birth to 6 year olds

2005

Early Childhood GrantStrategic Planning ProcessIntroduction

Goal• To engage a diverse group

of stakeholders, includingfamily members of childrenwith mental health needsand system partners, in acollaborative planningprocess to complete thefollowing tasks:

• Assess the current state of children’smental health within Allegheny County

• Determine guiding vision for EC grant• Within provided context, inform SOC

structure and outcomes via thecreation of a strategic plan

Strategic Planning ProcessPlanning ParticipantsOverview

Strategic Planning ProcessPlanning ParticipantsOverview of System Partners

2

4

13

2

6

3

2

3

24

0 5 10 15 20 25

Child Welfare

Other

Early Childhood

Primary Health

Community Based Organization

M anaged Care Provider

DHS Representative

University Based Researcher

M ental Health

N=59

21st Annual RTC ConferencePresented in Tampa, February 2008

2

Strategic Planning ProcessPlanning OperationsOverview• Invitations

• Clearly defined purpose• 6 evening meetings

• One hour family pre-meetings• 1.5 hour meetings• Central location

• Incentives for families• On-site childcare, food, and stipends

• Independently contractedfacilitator was a family member

• Meeting Agendas• Grouping Strategies• Process Evaluation

• Surveys given after 1st, 3rd, and 6th

meeting

Strategic Planning ProcessOutcomes

• Increased Buy-In• System partners and family members• Final survey results

• Creation of Guiding Vision• All stakeholders contributed to common vision

• Creation of Strategic Plan• Informed Logic Model and local outcomes

Strategic Planning ProcessLocal Outcomes

Caregiver Depression• Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression

Scale Exposure to Trauma

• Traumatic Events Screening Inventory Family Empowerment

• Family Empowerment Scale Social/Emotional (children 1 -5)

• BITSEA and DECA Parental Stress

• Parenting Stress Index

Strategic Planning ProcessStrengths• Pre-existing belief in System of

Care’s values and principles

• Clearly defined purpose of formalmeetings

• Family involvement

• Great facilitator

• Recommendations wereaccurately captured

• Process evaluation

Strategic Planning ProcessAnd the Survey Said…Participants Felt Respected, Fully Engaged, and OptimisticAll values are based on a scale of 1 (strong disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The following

chart displays key aggregate data from the three surveys.

Participants' Perspective on the Planning Process

4.82

4.55

4.62

4.68

Facilitator respects

differing viewpoints

I understand the goal

I understand my role

I am able to

participate

N=110

Strategic Planning ProcessAreas for Improvement• Detailed review of grant summary

• Audacious goals given timeconstraints

• Creating opportunities for long termmeaningful engagement

• Developing meaningfulfamily/professional relationships

• Defining purposeful youth involvement

• Creating more feedback opportunities

21st Annual RTC ConferencePresented in Tampa, February 2008

3

Strategic Planning ProcessIdeas for Replication

• Hold family pre-meetings

• Provide incentives for families

• Conduct process evaluation• Invaluable data to course-correct if needed

• Use an independent facilitator

• Create subcommittees to sustain long termengagement

Contact InformationRobin Orlando

Director of Quality Assurancerorlando@dhs.county.allegheny.pa.us

Elizabeth MastenEarly Childhood Evaluation Coordinatoremasten@dhs.county.allegheny.pa.us

Terri ReighardSET Project Director

treighard@dhs.county.allegheny.pa.us